Why Aung San Suu Kyi's son did not celebrate her move to house arrest

Aung San Suu Kyi has not had access to her family or lawyer since being imprisoned by the military. (Reuters: Ann Wang) Link copiedShareShare articleWhen Aung San Suu Kyi's son heard his mother was being transferred from prison to house arrest, he didn't celebrate. "We have not had proof she is alive," said Kim Aris, who last received a handwritten letter from his mother two years ago. "It was heavily censored, but she was able to convey her cell was extremely hot in summer and very cold in winter. "She said her spirit remains strong, even if her health is not as good as it was in the past." Aung San Suu Kyi's son has called for proof of life. (Reuters: Kim Kyung-Hoon ) The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been imprisoned since 2021, when Myanmar's military junta ousted the civilian government she led. Last week, Myanmar's coup leader, Min Aung Hlaing, who was recently elected president in what has been widely dismissed as a "sham election", ordered the 80-year-old to be transferred from Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, to house arrest. The military said the decision was "made to celebrate Buddha Day, to show humanitarian concern, and to demonstrate the state's benevolence and goodwill". As part of the announcement broadcast by Myanmar state media, a photograph of Suu Kyi sitting on a bench, flanked by men in uniform, was shown. A photo of Myanmar's detained former president Aung San Suu Kyi was broadcast on state media. (Myanmar State TV) It is the first public image of her released in years. But there were no details about where and when the image was taken. Mr Aris, who lives in London, said he had seen no evidence indicating she had been moved. He told the ABC that he had asked French President Emmanuel Macron and other governments to call for Myanmar to provide independently verified proof of life, and to provide her with access to medical care, her lawyers and her family. "We have heard of my mother being moved to house arrest on a number of occasions over the past five years, and none of them have proven to be true," he said. "The military have been playing these same games for over 30 years, and the world continues to fall for it." Mr Aris said he had also been speaking to the British Foreign Office, but "no-one had been able to get any type of access to my mother". Suu Kyi was serving a 27-year sentence for a range of politically-motivated offences, ranging from incitement and corruption to election fraud and violating a state secrets law. But, as part of a widespread pardon in April, her sentence was reduced by several years. Mr Aris is worried the military's reduction of trumped-up charges against Suu Kyi is part of its efforts to seek legitimisation with the international community. Mr Aris maintains that his mother was locked up under false charges. "She should never have been in prison, so these aren't meaningful steps [to reduce her sentence]," he said. About the time Mr Aris heard about Suu Kyi's move to house arrest, during the Myanmar Buddhist new year Thingyan, Chit Thein also started receiving congratulatory messages related to her father. "Friends had heard rumours that my father was to be released," said Chit Thein, daughter of U Win Htein, a close aide to Suu Kyi and a member of her National League for Democracy party. During Thingyan, the Myanmar military tightly manages the release of political prisoners, while keeping others behind bars. Family members wait outside prison for the release of prisoners in Yangon, Myanmar. (Reuters: Stringer) But when the bus pulled out of Mandalay prison and was greeted by families eagerly waiting outside, Win Htein wasn't among those released. However, what Chit Thein received a few days ago was a letter from her 84-year-old father. Written in her father's hand were questions about his grandchildren and answering her frustration, and disappointment that he wasn't among those released. Chit Htein is one of many family members of political prisoners waiting in agonising uncertainty. (Supplied: Chit Thein) She said she noticed his tone reflected a Buddhist's calm acceptance of what may come. "I want to write to him [to say], 'No, we don't give up,'" Chit Thein said. Among those released from the mass amnesty was Win Myint, who was serving as Myanmar's president until he was deposed in the military coup. But more than 22,000 individuals, who were jailed since the military takeover, remain behind bars. Myanmar's detained former president Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest, according to state media. The Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, a group of independent experts, said in a recent statement that "the junta is delivering half-measures aimed at placating ASEAN and the international community". "A fake parliament headed by a fake 'President' in Min Aung Hlaing and more recently the junta's unverified claims to have moved State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest, after years of solitary a

Why Aung San Suu Kyi's son did not celebrate her move to house arrest

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